The Official Great Pacific Octopus Thread

[Muggydude]

That actually describes what I felt pretty well on my 187s with a on the line mount. I will report back when I get a chance to try my -1.5 mount with inserts

[The Dark Side]

I got out in my new hybrid carbon GPO 182's the last two days and feel similar to neck beard. I just don't feel they float well enough for a ski that width, maybe it is the stiff tips (note that they are the standard stiffness). I mounted at -1.5 (or a bit less) for 310cm. Compared with my Lotus 120 bamboo 178cm they have less ski in front and far more behind the bindings. The L120 are the gold standard for skiing pow, IMO, but I was hoping to get a more versatile board to use at the area and side-country. I guess I'm just not one for center mounted skis. If someone is interested I am thinking of selling them.

[roQer]

I'm preparing to mount my GPO UL with Beasts and a Cochise with tech soles. What are the recommended drill size and length for this setup? I couldn't find any specific drilling instructions for UL with my delivery.

[neck beard]

I asked. 3.5 x 9.5 for UL and carbon (and all others I assume)

I got out in my new hybrid carbon GPO 182's the last two days and feel similar to neck beard. I just don't feel they float well enough for a ski that width

Mine float good enough for 116, but I am still working out the center mount and balanced stance.

Some other posts to reply to but rushing...

[frorider]

I had lotus 120s...never really liked the old school rearward mount dps recommended. At -1 approx on the 192 UL gpos, and have skied enough pow (from wet mank to 4% blower) to conclude i have no tip dive issues. Should also mention that I have other rockered skis on which I'm more fwd mounted than these. Ie for a modern pow ski, the -1 location is not 'center mount' at all.

[Lindahl]

Where does the GPO come out at? I like being around -9 to -11 from center.

[adrenalated]

Line on GPO's is at -7 from true center. Mine are mounted at -9 and I really like them there. Or were you asking about the L120?

[roQer]

The dimple on my 192 GPO UL is 5 cm more forward than the mounting line on my 192 RPC which are mounted +1 from recommended. Both skis are quite similar shape wise. As I'm not unhappy with the mount on the RPCs, I'm considering going at least -4 on the GPO. Anything wrong with that?

[hoarhey]

The dimple on my 192 GPO UL is 5 cm more forward than the mounting line on my 192 RPC which are mounted +1 from recommended. Both skis are quite similar shape wise. As I'm not unhappy with the mount on the RPCs, I'm considering going at least -4 on the GPO. Anything wrong with that?

I wouldn't do that...dps mounts are way rearward...

I went -2 cm on my 182 GPO's and skied them all last season with marker tours and lange rx130's.
Those felt a smidge "back".

I'd say go -2 cm on the 192's and no more.

By the way, I mounted my 175 UL GPO's (take that kidwoo) with dynafit verticals at -1.3 cm after much hand wringing...

Haven't skied them yet, but will report back.

[Muggydude]

Don't know if I've ever read on here of someone going that far back. I'd think it would definitely screw with the skis' performance, people debate whether mounting even -1 to -2 goes against the skis design. Beyond -2 maybe -3 I doubt it would be ideal. Course different folks different stokes, so you can do it, but I'd be wary of that mount.

After skiing mine on the line I think -1 or -1.5 would be money

[Shu Shu]

FWIW my 187s are on the line. I had slight tip dive once in 20" of super light blower, and even then it was pretty low angle skiing. -4 seems like you might end up outside the sweet spot? No question mounting on the center line requires a centered stance approach with these skis. I find they get less responsive at this mount point if you ski with your weight far forward, but they are really quick if you stay centered.

[hoarhey]

I got out in my new hybrid carbon GPO 182's the last two days and feel similar to neck beard. I just don't feel they float well enough for a ski that width, maybe it is the stiff tips (note that they are the standard stiffness). I mounted at -1.5 (or a bit less) for 310cm. Compared with my Lotus 120 bamboo 178cm they have less ski in front and far more behind the bindings. The L120 are the gold standard for skiing pow, IMO, but I was hoping to get a more versatile board to use at the area and side-country. I guess I'm just not one for center mounted skis. If someone is interested I am thinking of selling them.

curious what your boot/binding combo is?

[hoarhey]

Quit buying skis that are too short for you.


Move 'em back. I drilled my 187s in Keith's presence and he made fun of me for going back 1cm, saying I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. But I've ridden too many of his skis already.

And FWIW, I did borrow a pair from him last year with demo binders and knew for a fact that it's worth doing because I tried both. Give'er 2cm and I think you'll be happy. But I know exactly what you're talking about, even on the 187s.

I agree with this. go back -2 nb

[neck beard]

Should also mention that I have other rockered skis on which I'm more fwd mounted than these. Ie for a modern pow ski, the -1 location is not 'center mount' at all.

This is what makes me stop and think about not remounting back. I have the CCR GPO. I think I'd like to have some more tip/less tail, I am worried a CCR ski needs a middle mount? I'd really like some thoughts on that.

Kidwoo - I had the first and worst major hooked tip and cross-ski double eject this week on upside down wind board. Happened so fast. Probably not going to happen on a 195. But I'm still happy with a 182 touring length.

[Banquo]

I had my 187's mounted -2 with Beasts/Vulcans and it looked right but didn't ski right for me. They did well in deeper snow but every where else they felt odd - like I was chasing the ski through turns. Remounted on the dimple and felt much better. I didn't notice much of a difference skiing some deeper days at Luv last April but definitely noticed a big difference in how they handled firm and chopped up conditions.

[neck beard]

I had to move my mount back on some BCs to switch bindings. Was on the dimple, now -1.5. I know this is a GPO topic, but I am happier at -1.5. On steeper powder I can ski forward and chase the ski tips down the line with my knees, surfing the front of the ski whilst unweighting the tails by lifting my heels as required - without tip dive or augering. Thinking similar results from a more reward GPO mount.

[xtrmjoe]

My 192 med stiff all glass are mounted -2 and enjoying it so far. It was closer to the middle of the contact points and i prefer to be a little more traditional than center.

I'm would assume they are a little quicker at dimple. I was looking for more directional/charger/floater/crud buster mostly resort ski.

[meter-man]

New Blister review on the GPO: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-re...015-praxis-gpo

[grinch]

New Blister review on the GPO: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-re...015-praxis-gpo

That review is almost laughable. I couldn't even read past page 1 there is so many inaccuracies . 3 of them tried the skis a number of days before they tuned or detuned and just wrote them off basically before doing that. I mean c'mon. What a bunch of hacks. I'm sure they all ski better than me but that review is complete bullshit. I have a strong feeling there review of the MVP was bs as well. Bought a couple skis they recommended as a quiver killer and I was less than impressed. They called the gpo and MVP stiff and slow. Hahahaha what a joke. Bunch of other things are complete opposite as well. I'm kind of flip flopping between laughing, scratching my head and an overwhelming urge to kick a puppy. Painful just painful/rant blog

[undertow2]

They have been commenting since late last ski season they were going to ski it and throw up a review... I have been checking their site just looking for their review... As an owner of 193 MVPs and 192 stock GPO I could not disagree more with their reviews... The only thing I would agree with and what others here have said that there are other skis in this range that float better... But other than that this ski is second to none for a big mountain fun ski...

I completely agree with you Grinch the article was laughable... I own 191 Billy's, 196 Renegades and 190 Bibbys and the GPO and to me is the most well rounded for several conditions and terrains...

[stuckathuntermtn]

It sounds like the reviewer is the exact opposite type of skier the skis are designed for. Which makes me want to try them more, lol.
Was really surprised at the review.
I'm guessing no one in Missoula has a pair...:/

[grinch]

Exactly. At -1 mine float fine but yes I'm sure there are other skis that float better. They float fine but there is other features to the design that make them super capable all around that r going to detract a bit from float. I was calling mine my new mogul ski(unlike blisters impression) . I'm not a mogul skier but they're so quick edge to edge I feel like I'm playing way more down thru the moguls as opposed to another ski, which shall remain nameless, that they recommended as a one ski quiver. The gpo is a very intuitive ski. Carves amazing, no hooking, quick edge to edge, great blend of float to pivot ratio, all opposite to what those wankers say. Some of blisters break down and test scenarios should be embarrassing to them if they had any idea how to test a ski. Make the fkn ski flat detune up to rocker/taper start area , wax according to temp and ski the fkn thing. Fuck all the 1and 2 degree bullshit. If someone wants to do that fine. They should be able to review a flat ski w proper detune and tell what it's about from there. It's a fat ski. Gpo is med/stiff and it's not fkn stiff like they say. I'm fkn 160lbs, it's not stiff. It's perfect.

[garuda]

They have been commenting since late last ski season they were going to ski it and throw up a review... I have been checking their site just looking for their review... As an owner of 193 MVPs and 192 stock GPO I could not disagree more with their reviews... The only thing I would agree with and what others here have said that there are other skis in this range that float better... But other than that this ski is second to none for a big mountain fun ski...

I completely agree with you Grinch the article was laughable... I own 191 Billy's, 196 Renegades and 190 Bibbys and the GPO and to me is the most well rounded for several conditions and terrains...

I am about to mount a pair of 192 UL. Did you go on the line or back? I am leaning toward maybe -.5 but think it will probably be fine anywhere from the line back to -1. I have 196 rens and hojis at -6 from center, so the -7 from center mount on the GPO doesn't seem wacky. With everyone saying they could use some help in the float department, I am thinking of going a bit back though. And yes...I know this has been discussed at length. Just looking for any last input from folks of have skied them a lot. Thanks!

[eskido]

I actually really like and appreciate Blister and the work they do (jealous would probly be a better word here) but I kinda have to throw out here that a review is just that, someone's review. Doesn't mean they ski like you, like the skis you like, or shag the chicks you would, but I do think they charge and I do value they're opinions but I take them as just that. That being said, the MVP review seemed like total BS to me, if they knew the ski was too much they shouldn't of done the review until they received a stock pair, and while I didn't think the Concept review was bad by any means, I absolutely don't think it did those sticks justice at all! I don't have a pair of GPO's, but my Protests and Concepts are F N MONEY and I honestly don't believe anyone can find a better quality stick on this planet (although I'm seriously jonesin to jump on some ON3P's and Folsoms, but may not because of my profound love for everything Praxis... yes I'm quite biased). That being said I have noticed some of the quirks Blister noted on my Concepts but not as the knock they made it out to be. Guess what I'm sayin is I think the Blister crew does a great job of being as unbiased as possible and I've followed their work quite extensively and really dig the back and forth they do in the comment section but as someone who absolutely adores my Praxis sticks I really don't feel like they've done them justice but if I wrote the reviews in sure plenty of peeps would be cussin my ass as well... yes I just realized Ive just said absolutely nothing, but fuck it, I typed it I'm posting it

[undertow2]

Garuda, -1 def seems to be the consensus... I went dimple per my discussion with Keith and I am happy there... The ski floats fine it just doesn't have the surfy floaty feel like a Bentchetler, Opus or Billy... I am sure I would still like them at - 1, but Keith was very opinionated about mounting on the line and took his advice... I should add that on the dimple the ski requires more of a centered stance, but since you are rocking RENs this should not be an issue and the sweet spot is a hole lot bigger than the RENs...

The GPO to me has no weaknesses and love it in the trees... To me it has two diff personalities - the ski will absolutely charge when you ask it to, but is also laid back and easy to ski when asked to... I really find it hard to believe that the ski I love so much is the same one Blister reviewed... I will admit that Blister has a huge hard on for the Bibby and I don't get it... I got a smoking deal on mine so was an easy decision to pull the trigger, but there is not one area that I think the Bibby touches them... Diff strokes...